On a rainy Saturday afternoon, Tadcaster concluded their tough pre-season matches with the sternest test of all against a strong York City side. To put it into perspective York are four leagues above Albion - a little like them playing a Premier League side!

York immediately were on the offensive with Duckworth just failing to get on the end of a long cross from Cordner, whilst on 5 minutes Zanda Siziba latched onto a pass from McLaughlin but was adjudged offside. McLaughlin tried his luck from the edge of the box but was well over the bar.

A goal to the visitors seemed inevitable and on eleven minutes Adam Crookes had an easy tap in after Siziba crossed from the by line. 0 -1
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With the Brewers still not settling, Maz Kouhyar found John-Lewis free in the box but Joe Wilton was well positioned to save the low drive. On eighteen minutes Siziba’ s opportunist effort from distance brought out another good stop from Wilton and fortunately John-Lewis was off side as he tried to connect with the loose ball.

Tad had to wait for 21 minutes for their first meaningful attack - Tawheed Ahmed put an inch perfect ball to Lewis Stephens but the ball skid through to the keeper, Maison Campbell.
On 30 minutes the Minstermen doubled their advantage; Siziba again causing havoc as he cut in to launch a 20-yarder from the edge of the box – a classic strike!. 0 – 2.

Siziba again on 36 minutes put in a peach of a cross but John-Lewis could not reach it, although almost immediately the tall striker cleared the bar from close range. Dan Pybus went wide with a long-range effort whilst just before the break, Wilton denied close range efforts from both Dyson and Crookes.

Kieran Greenway had a chance before the half time whistle but it remained two down at the break.

Mick O’Connell brought on three trialists plus Corey Roper as play resumed and with some tactical changes Albion looked a much better team and could have snatched one back when a poor back pass from Cordner was cleared off the line by Campbell. Roper looked comfortable in the middle of the park and his cross to Stephens at the far post on seven minutes in, needed good defending from Duckworth to save a goal .

Taddy kept up the pressure ; On 53 minutes Stephens burst down the left flank before a dangerous cross into the area but the header from a trialist was wide. Dan Thirkell had a close-range chance but Campbell was well positioned.

At the other end, the trialist keeper made two great saves from Kouhyar and John-Lewis and when the striker back heeled the ball into the net on 57 minutes, the Assistant referee immediately flagged for off side. Siziba, however was a constant threat and on the hour doubled his tally with a mesmerising run through the defence before delivering a low shot into the back of the net.0 – 3.

On 63 minutes Thirkell had the ball in the York net but it was offside. John Lewis also saw the same outcome after collecting a cross from Siziba seconds later. However, there was recompense for the visitors with twenty minutes to go when Pybus’s low shot found the Tadcaster goal. 0 -4.

Kitchen and Thirkell then made way for Fatlum Ibrahimi and Elliot Holmes, whilst there was a sigh of relief when Siziba also made way for a substitute. Stephens limped off on 78 minutes - he had not stopped running for the whole time.

The trialist keeper made several really good saves as the match reached its conclusion. It had been a good second half for the Brewers - there was no disgrace at all in losing by four goals to their illustrious opponents.

Next Saturday the League commences with a trip to Thackley Kick off 3.00 pm whilst the following Tuesday, 1st August, we are at home to Frickley Athletic KO 7.45

Wilton, Owen, McDaid ©, Thirkell, Qualter, Hardcastle, Ahmed, Kitchen, Stephens, Greenway, Kay. Subs used: Roper, Walters, Holmes, Ibrahimi Trialists (5)

Report from John Clothier - Photos Courtesy Of Keith Handley and Craig Dinsdale